Welcome to my blog! This space is a chance to share in my travels and ministry and for me to share some of my thoughts and concerns as a Franciscan and as Minister General of Society of St. Francis with you. These are reflections of a modern friar on the road. Look for prayers and other items of inspiration as they move me.

Monday, August 3, 2009

Once the celebrations were over, the brothers had to quickly shift gears and prepare for Chapter. Fortunately Monday was a free day. Everybody slept. Some friends stayed on to help clean up and prepare a special lunch for us. I got in a satisfying six mile run into the Cathedral and back. Then, late in the afternoon we moved ourselves to Hetune Convent with the Commuity of the Visitation of Our Lady (the CVL Sisters). They'd bravely welcomed us even though their generator wasn't working so there was no electricity, and no running water. We couldn't have cared less!

Tuesday was a Quiet Day with addresses given by the retired Bishop of Dogura, Bishop Sanana. He talked about the adventure of our calling. I was all ears. Much of what he said rang true to me and echoed many of the things we'd heard in America during the Formator's conference. A very pleasant surprise.

Then there was Chapter: reports, discussions, votes. We elected Brother Charles Iada to Life Profession, Br. Samuel Pokia to First Profession. We welcomed back into the noviciate a man (Jerry Ross) who been a brother before (and shared the same date of Profession with me--I was professed in New York October 16, 1993 and he'd been professed that day in PNG). There were a few farewells: the Guardianship of Haruro changed because Wallace's term was up. We elected Selwyn Suma the new Guardian. Br. Gabriel was released from Vows.

As familiar as the process was to all of us, it had a sense of being extra important: the first provincial chapter of the new Province of Papua New Guinea.

We were bone tired by the time we got back to the Friary Friday, but there were still loose ends to tie up. So Saturday was spent waiting. Unfortuantely it took until Saturday night to get everybody together to dot the "i's" and cross the "t's".

Sunday I celebrated and preached: oofdah! But then it was bathing in the river, sleeping in a cool breeze, reading a novel.

Thursday of this week I head off on an adventure: going by ship overnight up the coast to Lae. Br. Robert Eric will meet me and we will leap onto one of the huge trucks cum rural bus called PMV's and travel most of a day to the point closest to the trail head which we will then hike to a village called Jimi and visit the place Br. Justus Van Houten died in 2006. The Brothers have built a friary there, named after Br. Justus. I am also going to meet with the people and assure them of SSF's love and gratitude to them for all that they did for Justus.

After my arrival in Papua New Guinea, I was housed, with Brothers Brian, Alfred, and Giles at a guest house in Port Moresby. The chief distinguishing characteristic of this guest house was the size of the cockroaches: the largest I've ever seen in my life! But they were a source of amusement when the conversation flagged to track them down. In many ways this gathering was like any family reunion: out of town guests sitting around motel rooms. Special meals and outings. Some of us had never met, some were very familiar. Finally it was time to go to the airport to fly to Popondetta for the manin event. After only a half hour flight we arrived and I could see out the window a small bevy of girls in traditional costume. Each of us was greeted with a flower lei. A new bench mark for airport arrivals! Then we got into a hired van and were driven to the friary.

Br. Brian was asked to knock at a temporary barricade set up across the road, and then a voice called out a challenge. I was nudged from behind and told to say "We are Franciscans!" We did this three times and then the barricade came down to reveal maybe 50 people in feathers and tapa cloth, with drums, spears and flowers, shouting "Oro! Oro! Oro!" (Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!). Led by a man I concluded must be the chief, they sang and danced all of the way to the friary central lawn. There we had speeches, more singing and handshaking, nearly every brother in the province was there to greet us. It was particularly moving to see some of the older people in the crowd fall on Br. Brian with shouts of joy and tears. One of the men I noticed I later met as the man who built the friary 50 years ago.

The next day, Saturday, we spent being entertained in grand Papua New Guinean style. Meanwhile there was incredibly intense activity going on behind the friary and in the surrounding area. I could hear axes chopping wood, women singing, smoke spiralling into the air. At one point a pig, trussed and suspended on a pole was carried through the central lawn, accompanied by the same band of singers and dancers, singing much the same sorts of songs as when they greeted us. It was a way of rejoicing and giving thanks for the pig and its life. Poor pig. But the food was fabulous. The brothers organized a vocational school with catering classes to prepare the food for the weekend. It was all local food, but beautifully presented: bananas of many kinds and divers preparations, yams, taro, aibica, papaya, chicken, rice, cassava, kau-kau. Heavy on the starches, but absolutely delicious and just the right thing to serve on this occasion. SSF has become entirely Papua New Guinean.

Br. Oswald officiated at a beautiful Solemn Evensong Saturday evening. We'd intended to bless a plaque presented by the European Province brothers commemorating the first 4 SSF brothers to go to Papua New Ginea in 1959 (Geoffrey, Mark, Steven and Andrew). But during Evensong we could hear hammering and the sounds of cement being mixed in a barrel nearby. Obviously no plaque would be placed there that night. But by morning, the forms were gone, there was a beautiful pedestal and the plaque was there, covered by a piece of brown cloth.

The solemn procession began at the friary gate, with the Bishop Protector Joseph Kopapa (a novice in the Third Order SSF) shovelling incense on the thurible. The smell of incense mingled with the smell of roasting pork and vegetables from the four stone muu-muus (traditional stone ovens) ranged behind the friary. Several hundred people had stayed up all night long to prepare three pigs, tons of sweet potatoes and yams and other delicacies. Then they donned their costumes and escorted us into church through a large crowd of other people, pressing in and waving. The brothers had designed a terrific liturgy, with every local institution sending a group of dancers. We danced the Gloria, the Gospel procession, the Offertory, the Great Amen, and then danced our way out to bless the plaque in the memorial garden/graveyard behind the Chapel. Br. Brian's sermon recapped the adventure of the early days and the incredible generosity of the people who originally welcomed the Brothers. But he spoke to larger themes, illustrating Franciscan spirituality with all that he said. It was masterfully done.

Then came the feasting. More dancing. And then presentations to the brothers. Some were invited to give speeches, but there seemed to be several spontaneous ones. As always children featured prominently in the festivities, and provided some moments of hilarity as they toddled among their parents, all decked out as tiny warriors. I was particularly struck by the number of teenagers among the performers. I asked one parent who came to rest near me: "Do you have trouble convincing the teenagers to dress up in traditional costume and dance like that?" I was assured they loved it and were proud of their culture. The whole weekend was animated by a passionate sense of a living cultural tradition which has embraced the Gospel message and Franciscan way of life. I was particularly moved to see the brothers in their full Franciscan habits overlayed by feather and shell ornaments, their faces marked with painted designs.

I had wondered how we might assess the impact of 50 years of the Order in PNG. But there was no mystery to it. The presence of many bishops, hundreds of people, representatives of the government, children, cats, dogs and domesticated jungle creatures that one woman permitted to crawl all over her I knew that the Society of St. Francis had made a difference, and been changed forever in the bargain.

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About Me

I am the Minister General of the Society of St. Francis, a religious order for men in the Anglican Communion. I am an Episcopal priest and have lived, for the past 10 years in Mt. Sinai, Long Island, New York (www.s-s-f.org). Currently I spend nearly 10 months of the year traveling among the provinces of the Society of St. Francis

Something Old, Something New

The monks of the order of the Holy Cross at Mariya uMama weThemba Monastery in Grahamstown, SA, use a wonderful version of the Salve Regina:

Mary we hail you, Mother and Queen compassionate: Mary most holy, great and pure, we hail you. To you your children, members of Christ lift our voices. To you we sing praises that by your obedience you brought forth to us a Savior. Pray for us now, O our intercessor, that the grace of earnest repentance be given to us sinners. And may we, when our earthly sojourn has been ended, joy in Jesus, the blessed fruit of your womb, O gentle, O tender, O gracious Virgin Mary.

Do It Anyway Prayer

1. The version found written on the wall in Mother Teresa's home for children in Calcutta:

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

-this version is credited to Mother Teresa

Clark Kae Kae

Isn't he adorable? Named after me

Subjects for Prayer

My God, if it is true that you are everywherewhy am I so often elsewhere in my thoughts?

If you travel around the world, you will find traces of God;if you go into your own depths, you will find God himself.

Bose Monastery Welcome leaflet

A Table Prayer

For food in a worldwhere many walk in hunger,For faith in a worldwhere many walk in fear,For fellowship in a worldwhere many walk alone

We give you thanks, O Lord!

A Prayer from Taize

Christ Jesus, within us there is a silent longing. And when our inner being becomes dispersed, our thirsty heart dares to say: enable me to live from you, O Christ; gather up my desire and my thirst.

Pray for Peace

A Sign near the DMZ in Korea

A 14th Century Invitation

Come, come again, and again...Come, be you unbeliever, idolator or fire-worshiper...Our hearth is not the threshold of despair;Even if you have broken your vow of repentance a hundred times,come again

As seen on the London Underground

From The Prelude by William Wordsworth

Now free,Free as a bird to settle where I willWhat dwelling shall receive me? In what valeShall be my harbor? Underneath what groveShall I take up my home? And what clear streamShall with its murmur lull me into rest?

The earth is all before me. With a heartJoyous, nor scared at its own liberty,I look about, and should the chosen guideBe nothing better than a wandering cloud,I cannot miss my way.

Anglican Chaplaincy in Assisi

This is St. Leondard's church where Br. Thomas Anthony is Chaplain

Br. Geoffrey, First Minister General of SSF

"It seems to me St. Francis would have a great deal to say today about reverence for the land and the animal kingdom, for much is going on in the name of economic necessity which is little short of scandalous."

--Delivered to S.S.F. Chapter in mid 1970's

Matthew Fox's Thesis #64

"Love of life is everyone's daily task."

Greetings from New Zealand Archbishop

Warm greetings and peace.

On behalf of The Anglican Church in Aotearoa New Zealand and Polynesia Te Hahi Mihinare ki Aotearoa, ki Niu Tireni, ki Nga Moutere o te Moana Nui a Kiwa, I write to formally express the warmest of welcomes, on the occasion of your first visit to these islands as Minister General.

The Society of Saint Francis has been present in this Province for over 30 years and has endeared itself to the hearts of many, through the spirituality, compassion and solidarity of the Brothers. Friars have served as youth ministers, school chaplains, social workers, spiritual directors, retreat leaders, parish priests, social service agency directors, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to thousands of Maori and Pakeha New Zealanders and Pacific Islanders throughout this Church.

Through the presence of the First and Third Orders of The Society, we have come to know and be transformed by the example of Saint Francis. The Franciscan embodiment of the way of Christ is now firmly seeded, rooted and established in our hearts and lives. For this incalculable gift we are profoundly thankful to God.

The presence of The Friary of The Divine Compassion at the Waikato Christian Social Service Village, Te Ara Hou, bears witness to the on-going quality and commitment of The Society of Saint Francis in the South Pacific. In return the Brothers have won, once again, the profound affection and respect of this Church as they seek to witness Christ after the example of Saint Francis.

For all these reasons we are honoured by your visit and ask you to receive this small token of our gratitude for your time amongst us; the woven flax cross plaque of The Anglican church in this part of the world.

With warmest regards,

Yours in Christ,

+David Waikato

David J. MoxonBishop of WaikatoArchbishop of The New Zealand Dioceses

Presented April 21, 2008

Welcome to Papua New Guinea

First Order Brothers, Third Order Brothers and sisters and SSF Companions welcome me to Haruru in PNG

Welcome to the Solomon Islands

A Prayer from Taize

Holy Spirit, enable us to turn towards you at every moment. So often we forget that you dwell in us, you pray in us, and that you live in us. Your presence in us is trust and continual forgiveness.

A daily prayer for the struggle

The world has the means to end extreme poverty. We pray that we will have the will.

Words from Dr. King in honor of his birthday

If you cannot be a spruce tree on the top of a hight mountain, be at least a fertile blade of grass in the valley.

If you cannot be an oak tree, at least be a shrub.

If you are not a highway, be at least a viable pathway.

If you cannot be the sun, try to be a small star.

Endeavor to find out the secret plan that should structure your life, and adopt it as a practice.

Words of Wisdom

"We don't have to be "successful," only valuable. We don't have to make money, only a difference, and particularly in the lives society counts least and puts last."

from Credo,by William Sloane Coffin

For the Love of God

May the power of your love, O Lord, fiery and sweet as honey, so fill my heart as to withdraw it from all that is under heaven; and grant that I may be willing to die for love of your love as you died for love of mine.

The Absorbeat by St. Francis

A Prayer

Grant, Lord, that we, who have been redeemed from our unworthiness and made fit by Christ's sacrifice to share in his kingdom, may remember what we were and what we are, and may forgive as we have been forgiven; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

From the Australian Alternative Collets, 1985

A Franciscan Blessing

May God bless us with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that we may live deep within our hearts. Amen.

May God bless us with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that we may work for justice, freedom and peace. Amen.

May God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war, so that we may reach out our hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy. Amen.

May God bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we can make a difference in this world, so that we can do what others claim cannot be done. Amen.

And the blessing of God who Creates, Redeems and Sanctifies be upon us and all we love and pray for this day, and forever more. Amen.

I first heard this given by the late Jim Kelsey, Bishop of Northern Michigan and a great friend.